Limon, Costa Rica - Panama Canal, Central America and Mexico Cruises

Enjoy the delightful countryside of Costa Rica, the typical community village of Bananito and the coastal resort of Colon Caribe.

Heading south from Limon you will pass Cieneguita, the oldest part of the city, constructed by the first Jamaican settlers. The houses here were built on stilts to keep the inhabitants safe from the coastal swamps, landslides, floods, jungle fevers and heavy rains.

En route, you will pass banana and cacao plantations and glimpse breathtaking views of the palm-fringed Caribbean Sea. Keep a look out for White Egrets, Blue Herons, kingfishers, pelicans, iguanas and Black-Shouldered Kites.

Visit the village of Bananito, the latest of many communities constructed by the Standard Fruit Company (Dole) to provide their employees with housing. Here, enjoy the opportunity to purchase a token souvenir or local handicrafts.

Before returning to Limon via the same route, a brief stop will be made at the Colon Caribe Resort. Wander in the pleasant gardens, browse the souvenir shop or purchase some light refreshments.

Note: This tour involves limited walking, however guests must negotiate steps onto and off the coach.

Journey into the Caribbean rainforest and discover the fascinating plants and animals that bring it to life.

Embark on an adventure into the tropical rainforest environment of Costa Rica. Travel through luscious landscapes on a tractor-drawn jitney, designed especially for you to enjoy the natural surroundings.

As you ride, keep your eyes open for some of the area's curious inhabitants such as the huge Bullet Ants, colourful Keel-Billed Toucans, Blue Jean Frog and rare spiders whose cobwebs are compared to steel cables. If you are lucky, you may also see groups of Mantled Howler Monkeys, or the lazy Three-toed Sloth.

An impressive lookout point displays an amazing panorama of majestic mountains and a wonderful view of the Banano River. Another highlight of your tour will be a stroll over a bridge walkway, allowing you easy access to the beauty of the canopy.

During your tour enjoy some delicious, locally-grown fresh fruit and water to quench your thirst.

Note: There will be approximately 300 feet of slow walking over the metal bridge and around four steps to negotiate. This tour is not recommended for those with a fear of heights, although this section of the tour is optional. The nature trails are over uneven terrain and may be slippery when wet. Comfortable, flat, walking shoes are recommended. Please be aware that this is a rainforest – please stay with your guide at all times, and do not touch any plant or animals, as they may be poisonous.

Enjoy the exotic flora and fauna of the Tortuguero Canal region, also known as Costa Rica's ‘Amazon’.

Board a covered jungle boat for a cruise along the Tortuguero Canals, part of the river system that parallels Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. The area is blessed with an extremely rich flora and fauna. Look out for orchids, birds, monkeys, crocodiles, sloths and toucans in a unique system of natural and man-made canals. Wave to the friendly locals in their dug-out canoes and watch them go about their daily lives. The lush jungle foliage is mirrored in the canals’ waters on this truly delightful tour. The boat trip ends at Moin, a short distance from the quayside.

After your canal cruise, enjoy some local fruits and music, before seeing how some of the fruit is processed at a banana plantation.

Note: The drive to the canals takes approximately 20 minutes each way. Guests must be able to negotiate steps onto and off the boat. There is some uneven ground to negotiate at the banana plantation. Comfortable, flat shoes are recommended. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. The canals are preserved areas, so take care not to litter. The order of highlights may vary.

A unique opportunity to meet the weird and wonderful sloth and enjoy a relaxing canoe ride and nature trail.

At the Aviarios del Caribe Sanctuary, you will board your five-man canoe for 30 minutes of gliding through the lush tropical vegetation that surrounds the Estrella River. In this area, it is common to see monkeys, sloths, river otters, caiman, birds, butterflies and amphibians.

On your return, a short video introduces the unique sloth. Sloths are tree-dwelling creatures related to the anteater and armadillo family. Their slow and gentle nature, long limbs and small heads make them very peculiar and totally enchanting creatures. Meet the individual animals in the Sanctuary to learn their stories and hopes for their future.

After your visit with the sloths, you will be invited to take an easy, guided walk through the forest, followed by some tropical fruits and refreshments.

Note: The forest trail and canoe ride is optional. Guests are requested not to use flash photography near the sloths. Donations to the Sanctuary are welcome. The itinerary may operate in reverse order.

This delightful tour takes you on a scenic and historical journey through Costa Rica. An experience not to be missed.

Travel along the famous narrow-gauge tracks on the railroad, which supposedly ‘couldn't be built’. The Northern Railroad gave birth to the banana industry and turned the fragile, delicious fruit into a leading export. You will ride the railroad in authentic carriages to enjoy the views over forests and rivers, whilst your guide points out the interesting sights.

The train takes you along the Caribbean shoreline, bordered by hundreds of tall coconut trees. Your journey will pass banana plantations and have wonderful views of the small colourful houses, set on stilts and decorated with local flowers.

Afterwards, your tour will continue to the Tortuguero Canals. You will arrive at Moin Station and be welcomed with a soft drink refreshment and a light snack, before boarding your boat for a delightful eco-cruise. Enjoy the rich flora and fauna that exists in the man-made canals, and keep an eye out for a variety of animals, including birds, monkeys, crocodiles, sloths and toucans.

During the coach section of the tour, a short stop will be made at a banana plantation for a close-up look at the delicious fruit to see how it is grown.

Note: This tour involves some walking over varying terrain and comfortable, flat walking shoes are recommended. Guests are advised that there are two - three high steps to negotiate when boarding the train. There is one basic toilet in each train carriage. The itinerary may operate in reverse order.

The Rainforest Aerial Tram is a unique eco-tourism and research facility, making this a truly fascinating trip.

Enjoy an enchanting trip through the rainforest canopy and its hanging gardens of plants and animals, hidden at the tops of tall trees. Home to two thirds of the rainforest species, the canopy is a little-known world of tremendous beauty. The tram ride lasts for approximately 1¼ hours, including stops along the way. Afterwards, take an optional walk through the rainforest with your experienced guide, before a Costa Rican luncheon is served at the Rainforest Café.

The Rainforest Aerial Tram is two hour’s drive from Limon. En route, you will enjoy some wonderful scenery as you travel by the boundaries of the Braulio Carrillo National Park.

Note: Guests must be able to negotiate the few steps onto and off the coaches and trams. Optional walking is over rough ground and uneven pathways. Please wear light clothing and take a waterproof jacket, insect repellent and flat, comfortable, non-slip shoes. Luncheon times may vary depending on the tour departure time. Queues for the trams are to be expected. Each tram holds five guests and one guide. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Sample the best of Costa Rica; discover the secrets of the rainforest and venture down the enchanting Tortuguero Canals.

The Rainforest Aerial Tram covers one of the richest canopy communities in the world. You will be taken on a fascinating tram ride through the rainforest canopy and its hanging gardens of plants.

After the thrill of the tram ride, savour a delicious buffet luncheon at the Rainforest Café.

Your tour continues on a scenic two hour drive through Costa Rica’s most fertile areas and banana plantations and on to the Tortuguero Canals. You will be welcomed with a soft drink refreshment and a tropical fruit buffet. Afterwards, board the jungle boats for a relaxing cruise along the Tortuguero Canals, enjoying the scenery as you pass by. Keep an eye out for monkeys, crocodiles, sloths and toucans, along with an assortment of exotic flora and fauna that prospers in this delightful eco-system.

Note: This tour involves very little walking, however guests must be able to negotiate steps on to and off the coach, aerial tram and boat embarkation. The tram ride lasts approximately 80 minutes. Each tram holds six guests and one guide. Delays at the tram may be experienced.

A visit to Veragua offers the ultimate Costa Rican rainforest experience.

The Veragua Rainforest Research Park covers approximately 4,000 acres and is surrounded by astonishing natural beauty.

Upon arrival, local naturalist guides will take you on a wonderful rainforest experience, as they lead you through live snake, frog and butterfly interactive exhibits. The Park is committed to research and conservation and each of the exhibits has been designed by the National Biodiversity Institute.

Afterwards, enjoy an open-air aerial tram ride that will take you through the canopy level of the rainforest. A stop will be made at the banks of the river where you will take a leisurely walk through the ‘Trail of the Giants’, named after the gigantic trees that line the trail. You may also wish to take the optional walk to view the magnificent two tiered Puma Waterfall.

You will re-board your tram for the return ride through the rainforest, which ends at the Research Station. A visit here will show you the operations of the dedicated researchers.

To round off your tour, some local fruits and a soft drink refreshment will be offered. You may also wish to browse the souvenir shop, before the return drive to the ship.

Note: This tour involves a moderate level of walking over wooden, paved and some gravel surfaces. Comfortable, flat shoes are recommended. The roads leading to Veragua are uneven and bumpy in parts. US Dollars are accepted for purchases.